Buckle



(No Model.)

JQE. HILL.

, y. BUCKLE. No. 590,738.

Patented Sept. 28,1897.

nllllllll UNITED STATES 'PArinvT Ormea,

JOHN E. HILL, OF CENTRE HARBOR, NEV HAMPSHIRE.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,738, dated September 28, 1897.

Application iled March 31, 18 9'7. i Serial No. 630,170. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/L- Be it known that I, `JOHN E. HILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Centre Harbor, in the county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented anew'and useful Harness-Buckle, of which the follow ing is a specification. Y

This invention provides a buckle for general use where two straps are to be connected together, and is of especial advantage when applied to harness, as it offers no projecting parts for catching the horses mane or tail, loose parts of the harness, fly-nets, or other appurtenances applied to the animal for useful or ornamental purposes.

Other objects and advantages are contemplated and will appear as the nature and details of the invention are more fully understood; and to this end reference is to be had to the following description, and the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are referred to and designated by the saine reference-characters.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without depart-k ing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the invention as it appears when applied to a tug. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box-loop having the latch-bar detached. Fig. Sis a detail view in perspective of the latch-bar. Fig. t is a longitudinal section showing the operation of the latch-bar by dotted lines.

The buckle consists, essentially, of the boX- loop 1 and a latch-bar 2, the box-loop having an eye lor link 3 at one end to receive the relatively fixed strap 4, whichis connected therewith in any of the usualways. A longitudinal channel or groove 5 is formed in the outer side of the box-loop, and is intersected at one end by an oblong opening 6, and communicates at its opposite end with a rectangular slot 7, the latter being the full width of the channel or groove and corresponding to the width of the latch-bar. The cross-bar S at the outer end of the rectangular slot 7 is slightly beveled on its outer side toward the slot 7 to afford clearance for the heel or rear end of the latch-bar when the latteris moved,

Vsoas to effect the release of the tug or adjustable strap 9. An oblong opening 10 is formed in the rear side of the box-loop directly opposite the oblong opening 6 and in register therewith, and-these openings 6 and 10 receive a stud 11, projecting from the inner side of the latch-bar and passing through one of a series of openings in the tug or strap 9, whereby the said stud receives a support upon each side of the opening or passage of the box-loop through which thestrap or tug 9 passes. l

The latch-bar 2 is of a length corresponding with the outerV side of the box-loop and is of a thickness and width corresponding to the depth and breadth of the channel or groove 5, into which it is snugly seated when in working position, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. The studll may be formed'with or applied to the latch-bar, as'found most convenient,

and will be sufficiently stout to ysustain the strain to be imposed thereon'. The rear or heel portion of the latch-bar is thickened and longitudinally slotted, as shown at 12, and the latter receives a pin or cross-bar 13, eX- tending across the rear portion of the channel `or groove 5 directly opposite the slot 7, thereby retaining thelatch-bar against accidental displacement and forming a support for the said latch-bar to slide and turn. upon.

A buckle constructed substantially as set forth is especially adapted for use in connection with a tug, as it admits of the latter passing straight through the box-loop and of its ready release and connection when required for lengthening or shortening the tug or for ating the cutting of the tug, which is frequently necessitated upon a horse falling before he can regain his feet. The latch-bar is released by moving it forward a -distance corresponding to the width of the crossbar S, after which itis turned upon the pin 13, thereby withdrawing thev stud 11 from the tug or strap 9, when the latter can be moved easily within the box-loop either forward or backward, and after the required adjustment is had the stud 11 is pressed through the opening in the tug or strap coming opposite the stud, when upon pulling the tug backward Aloosening it in an emergency, thereby obvil IOO the stud ll will engage with the rear ends of the openings G and l0 and the heel portion of the latcl1-bar Will be drawn over the cross-bar S, therebysecuring the parts in their adjusted position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A buckle comprising a box-loop provided With ineans for attachment therewith of a strap and having a longitudinal channel or groove in its outer face, and having a rectangular slot near one end of the channel and an oblong opening' near the opposite end thereof, and having a corresponding oblong opening in the rear or opposite side or Wall of the boxloop, in transverse alinement with the firstinentioned oblong opening, a pin or cross-bar extending across the rectangular slot, and a latch-bar snugly ttin g Within the channel or groove and coming flush with the outer .side of the box-loop and having its rear portion thickened and longitudinally slotted to receive the aforesaid pin, upon which it slides and turns, and provided near its free end with a stud to project across the space of the boxloop and operate in the oblong openings and having its opposite or heel end entering the aforesaid channel in the rear of the said pin or cross-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

J OIIN E. HILL.

lVitnesses:

FRANK L. ToWLn, FRED S. Con. 

